Utility hook

ABSTRACT

A utility hook is adapted to removably fit upon a standard overhead garage door track so as to not interfere with the garage door operation and may be used to suspend bulky items from the garage door track. The utility hook&#39;s lower portion is configured to hold an item below the hook. The utility hook&#39;s upper portion is a vertical segment continuous from the lower portion and bent at the top to approximately a right angle with an inward turned lip on the end, fitting over and engaging the upper flange of the track when the utility hook is set in place. The hook may be moved along the track by first rotating the utility hook outward away from the track and then sliding the utility hook along the track.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of a co-pending U.S. patentapplication (Ser. No. 10/704,230) entitled “UTILITY HOOK FOR ATTACHMENTTO AN OVERHEAD GARAGE DOOR TRACK,” filed Nov. 7, 2003 in the name ofMartin D. Webb and is hereby incorporated in its entirety by referenceherein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to utility hooks, and more particularly,to a removable storage hook adapted to fit securely to an overheadgarage door track so as to not interfere with the garage door operation.

2. Description of Related Art

Conventional storage fixtures and particularly garage storage deviceshave long been used to store items on the walls or ceiling of a garage.The storage space is often at a premium. Many garages have been equippedwith extensive shelving to store items off the garage floor, but largebulky items have presented additional problems. Storing a bicycle orladder on a wall often covers a large percentage of the available wallarea. Large items, such as bicycles and ladders, have often been left onthe garage floor. Additionally, specialized fixtures are used to holdthe bulky items on the garage ceiling or wall. Installation of thespecialized devices has required some skill and are most often attachedinconveniently or in a complex manner to the ceiling or wall by nails,bolts, or screws. Consequently, many storage devices have been developedto more effectively and efficiently use available storage space.Oftentimes, these devices position bulky items in hard to reach places,making it awkward to position or remove the stored items on the storagedevices.

Accordingly, it has been found that a need exists for a simple, costeffective, and efficient way of storing large or bulky items in agarage. A device is needed to store items such as ladders, bicycles, andfishing poles off the garage floor and yet preserves wall space for thestorage of other items. A device is needed that requires minimal skillsfor installation and is easily adjustable. It is an object of thepresent invention to provide such an apparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the present invention is a garage storage system thatuses a removable garage door utility hook adapted to attach to astandard overhead garage door track and support an object in an elevatedposition from the garage door track. The garage door utility hookincludes a lower object supporting portion and an upper garage doortrack attaching portion. The upper portion, which is continuous from thelower portion, is formed to engage over and attach to a standardoverhead garage door track so as not to interfere with the garage dooroperation. The lower portion is configured to support an object directlyunderneath the track. A system for storing an object in an elevatedposition from a standard overhead garage door track comprising:

In second aspect, the present invention is a garage storage system thatuses a removable garage door utility hook adapted to attach to astandard overhead garage door track and support an object in an elevatedposition, such as stored bicycles or stored elongated items like pipesand fishing poles, from the garage door track. The garage door utilityhook includes a lower object supporting portion and an upper garage doortrack attaching portion. The lower portion is configured to support anobject directly underneath the track. The upper portion continuesvertically from the lower portion. The upper portion is formed withapproximately a right angle bend that may extend over the ceilingmounted section of the garage door track, such that the upper portion ofthe utility hook may fit tightly against the outer vertical surface andouter horizontal upper flange of the ceiling mounted section of thegarage door track. The right angle extension further comprises a lipformed in such a manner as to nonpermanently engage and hold the garagedoor utility hook onto the ceiling mounted section of the garage doortrack as not to interfere with the garage door operation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood and its numerous objects andadvantages will become more apparent to those skilled in the art byreference to the following drawings, in conjunction with theaccompanying specification, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a garage door utility hook mounted on astandard overhead garage door track in the preferred embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is side view of the preferred embodiment of the garage doorutility hook of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of a first alternative embodiment of the garagedoor utility hook;

FIG. 4 is a front view of the garage door utility hook of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a side view the garage door utility hook in a secondalternative embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a front view the garage door utility hook of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a side view of a hook 220 in a third alternate embodiment ofthe present invention; and

FIG. 8 illustrates a side view of a hook 320 in a fourth alternateembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

A moveable garage door utility hook for supporting an object in anelevated position from a standard overhead garage door track isdisclosed. FIG. 1 is a front view of the preferred embodiment of thegarage door utility hook 20 mounted on a standard overhead garage doortrack 24 (shown in phantom) intended to store bulky items, such as abicycle 22 (shown in phantom), under and parallel to the garage doortrack. The garage door track is mounted via standard bracing 26 (shownin phantom) to the garage ceiling 28.

FIG. 2 is side view of the preferred embodiment of the garage doorutility hook 20. The utility hook is shown installed on a standardoverhead garage door track 24 (shown in phantom cross section). Astandard garage door roller wheel 30 (shown in phantom) is shown withinthe garage door track. The utility hook has a lower portion 34 that ishook-shaped to engage and may singularly or plurally support the bulkyitem. The utility hook also has an upper portion 32 verticallycontinuous from the lower portion, wherein the upper portion is formedwith approximately a right angle bend 36 that may extend over theceiling mounted section of the garage door track. The upper portion ofthe utility hook may fit tightly against the outer vertical surface 38(shown in phantom) and outer horizontal upper flange 40 (shown inphantom) of the ceiling mounted section of the garage door track 24(shown in phantom). The right angle horizontal extension 36 of theutility hook further comprises a lip 42 formed in such a manner as tononpermanently engage and hold the garage door utility hook onto theceiling mounted section of the garage door track as not to interferewith the garage door operation. Optionally, the garage door utility hookmay be permanently mounted to the garage door track by using a metalscrew or bolts through the utility hook into the vertical side of thegarage door track.

The garage door utility hook 20 may be rigidly constructed of a metallicmaterial, plastic or a composite material. Preferably, the utility hookis constructed of flat heavy gauge steel bar, such as 11 gauge by 0.500inches in width. The overall height of the utility hook from the top ofthe upper portion 32 to the bottom of the lower portion 34 may beconstructed for the actual garage site, i.e., a taller than averagegarage door may require a correspondingly longer utility hook foraccessability. Height adjustment problems may also be addressed by usingan extendable lower portion that slides downward on an opposing trackfrom the upper section. Such hook height adjustments are well known inthe art. A preferred height is approximately 7.00 inches. The dimensionsof the hook-shaped lower portion may be varied, but a hook bend ofapproximately 140 degrees with a 0.75 inch radius orientated under theupper section is preferred to help maintain a center of gravity belowthe upper portion. The dimensions of the upper section should be closelymatched to the shape of the garage door track. Preferably, the rightangle extension 36 has an overall length of approximately 1.36 inches.Preferably the lip 42 dimensions are an overall height of approximately0.34 inches with a 180 degree inward bend and a lip length ofapproximately 0.35 inches. The surface of the utility hook may befinished in numerous ways, such as unfinished, galvanized, spraypainted, powder coated, or the hook-shape may be covered with aprotective soft casing.

In the preferred manner of using this invention (reference FIGS. 1 and2), a user places the utility hook 20 over a standard garage door track24 (shown in phantom) by tipping the utility hook's lip 42 downward andover the garage door track's upper flange 40 (shown in phantom). Theutility hook is next pulled downward to place the upper portion of theutility hook in close proximity to the garage door track. The user maythen store selected items on the utility hook on its lower portion,which includes a curved, opened end. The objects supported by theutility hook are supported by the hook directly below the garage doortrack. The utility hook may be removed or slid along the garage doortrack by reversing the fore-mentioned process. The hook may be usedsingularly or in combination to store selected items. FIG. 1 shows theuse of two utility hooks to store a single bicycle. However, the samebicycle may be store from a single utility hook. The ability to slidethe hook along the garage door track allows the user to optimize thestorage placement, i.e., heavy items closer to bracing supports 26 orbicycles stored away from an area where a vehicle's door may be opened.

FIG. 3 is a partial side view of a first alternative embodiment of thegarage door utility hook 20, intended to store bulky items perpendicularto the garage door track 24 (reference FIG. 1). The alternativeembodiment has an upper portion 32 continuous from a lower portion 44.The upper portion is of dimensions, construction, and function similarto the preferred embodiment. The lower portion may be constructed in ahook-shaped end similar to the preferred embodiment, but the lowerportion's juncture to the upper portion has approximately a ninetydegree twist 46. The twist may be in a clockwise or a counter clockwisedirection.

FIG. 4 is a front view of a first alternative embodiment of the garagedoor utility hook 20 shown mounted on opposing garage door tracks 24(shown in phantom) storing an elongated bulky item, i.e., a pipe 48(shown in phantom), perpendicular to the garage door tracks. Otherelongated items, such as a fishing pole may similarly be stored. Themanner of using the first alternative embodiment is as disclosed above.

FIG. 5 is a side view of second alternative embodiment of the garagedoor utility hook 20 intended to engage and store an elongated flat itemunder and parallel to the garage door track 24 (shown in phantom). Thesecond alternative embodiment has an upper portion 32 continuous from alower portion 50. The upper portion is of dimensions, construction, andfunction similar to the preferred embodiment. The lower portion,extending downward from and orientated in the same plane as the upperportion, has a first bend 56 orientated away from the lip of the upperportion. The lower portion then extends downward to a second bend 58orientated back toward the lip of the upper portion. The lower portionthen has an extension 60 under the upper portion. Preferably, the firstbend is approximately 45 degrees and the second bend is approximately135 degrees. The combination of the lower portion's bends result in aflat horizontal extension that is approximately parallel to and underthe upper portion's right angle extension 36. The flat horizontalextension of the lower portion should be under the upper portion tolocate the center of gravity of the stored items under the upperportion. Optionally, the flat horizontal extension of the lower portionmay have a catch or slight upturn at the end to prevent a stored itemfrom sliding off the utility hook. Additionally, the lower portion'sbends may be in a reverse orientation, provided the stored item's centerof gravity remains under the upper portion.

FIG. 6 is a front view of a second alternative embodiment of two garagedoor utility hooks 20 storing a ladder 52 (shown in phantom) under andparallel to the garage door track 24 (shown in phantom). A standardpanel garage door 54 (shown in phantom) is shown in the raised positionfor reference. The door is mounted within the garage door track by thedoor roller wheels 30. The manner of using the second alternativeembodiment is as disclosed above.

The hook may include any configuration on the lower portion to allowattachment or hanging of items upon the hook. For example, in FIG. 7 isa side view of a hook 220 in a third alternate embodiment of the presentinvention. The hook 220 may include a lower portion 230 having a eyehook 232. In another example, FIG. 8 illustrates a side view of a hook320 in a fourth alternate embodiment of the present invention. The hook320 may include a lower portion 330 having a flat horizontal section322, a vertical extension 324 and a lower horizontal section 326. Itshould be understood that any lower portion allowing the attachment ofitems to the lower portion may be utilized. The lower portion may beopened or closed ended.

It is thus believed that the operation and construction of the presentinvention will be apparent from the foregoing description. While theapparatus shown and described has been characterized as being preferred,it will be readily apparent that various changes and modifications couldbe made therein without departing from the scope of the invention asdefined in the following claims.

1. A system for storing an object in an elevated position from astandard overhead garage door track comprising: an installed standardoverhead garage door track; a utility hook having an upper portionwherein the upper portion engages and attaches to the standard overheadgarage door track so as not to interfere with the garage door operation;and a utility hook having a lower portion with an end, continuous fromthe upper portion, with a shape that is configured to support an object,the utility hook supporting the object directly underneath the track. 2.The system of claim 1 wherein the end is closed-ended.
 3. The system ofclaim 2 wherein the end is an eye-hook.
 4. The system of claim 1 whereinthe end is opened-ended.
 5. The system of claim 4 wherein the lowerportion includes a horizontal aligned open end.
 6. The system of claim1, wherein: the utility hook has a lower portion extending downward andorientated in the same plane as the upper portion, the lower portionhaving a first bend segment orientated away from the lip of the upperportion; the lower portion's first bend segment extending downward to asecond bend segment orientated back toward the lip of the upper portion;and the lower portion's second bend segment horizontally extending underthe upper portion with the lower portion's second horizontal segmentorientated approximately parallel to and under the upper portion's rightangle extension to provide a flat supporting surface.
 7. The system ofclaim 6, wherein the end of the lower portion's segment has an upturnedtip.
 8. A system for storing an object in an elevated position from astandard overhead garage door track comprising: a utility hook having anupper portion vertically continuous from the lower portion, wherein theupper portion is formed with approximately a right angle bend that isconfigured to extend over the ceiling mounted section of the garage doortrack, such that the upper portion of the utility hook fits against theouter vertical surface and outer horizontal upper flange of the ceilingmounted section of the garage door track; the right angle extensionhaving a lip formed with an approximately 180 degree bend towards thelower portion of the garage door utility hook to nonpermanently engageand hold the garage door utility hook onto the ceiling mounted sectionof the garage door track and as not to interfere with the garage dooroperation; and the utility hook having a lower portion for use inengaging and supporting the object, the hook supporting the objectdirectly underneath the track.
 9. The system of claim 8 wherein the endis closed-ended.
 10. The system of claim 9 wherein the end is aneye-hook.
 11. The system of claim 8 wherein the end is opened-ended. 12.The system of claim 11 wherein the lower portion includes a horizontalaligned open end.
 13. A system for storing an object in an elevatedposition from a standard overhead garage door track comprising: aninstalled standard overhead garage door track; an object to be storedfrom the garage door track; a utility hook having an upper portionformed with approximately a right angle bend that may extend over theceiling mounted section of the garage door track, such that the upperportion of the utility hook fits against the outer vertical surface andouter horizontal upper flange of the ceiling mounted section of thegarage door track; the right angle horizontal extension having a lipformed with an approximately 180 degree bend towards the lower portionof the garage door utility hook such that the lip may tightly encompassthe horizontal upper flange's edge as to nonpermanently engage and holdthe garage door utility hook onto the ceiling mounted section of thegarage door track and as not to interfere with the garage dooroperation; and the utility hook having a lower portion extendingdownward and orientated in the same plane as the upper portion, thelower portion having a first bend segment orientated away from the lipof the upper portion; the lower portion's first bend segment extendingdownward to a second bend segment orientated back toward the lip of theupper portion; and the lower portion's second bend segment horizontallyextending under the upper portion with the lower portion's secondhorizontal segment orientated approximately parallel to and under theupper portion's right angle extension to provide a flat supportingsurface.